2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [NoV. 6, 



I still regret this loss — a loss the more felt as those who permitted 

 themselves the pilfering did so out of mere curiosity, and I found it 

 impossible to recover them. I am ignorant to what species these 

 purloined specimens may have belonged. 



The discovery of the large cavern was soon followed by that of 

 several others. I have specified them all in my work under the de- 

 signation of '' fissure " and '' gut," in consequence of their small size 

 compared with the first cave*. The fissure was filled with bones of 

 diff'erent animals ; there were almost as many as in a grave-yard. 

 We do not yet know the opening by which the bones were carried 

 into the principal cave on the Bouquet property ; for that by which 

 you now enter is in some degree artificial. The entrance was not, 

 in fact, perceived until a mass of calcareous freestone, 35 metres 

 thick, had been removed. Subsequently enlarged^ and closed by a 

 door, it now forms the only way into the principal cavern. 



These first points recognized, and the age of the Miocene lime- 

 stone estabhshed, we soon comprehended that there was nothing in 

 common between the formation of these cavities and their filling up. 

 In fact these caves belong to the Tertiary period, whereas the earth 

 (with rolled pebbles) containing the bones and the excrements as 

 clearly belong to the Drift-period (terrains de transport anciens) or 

 to the most recent geological times f. 



Later we perceived that these rolled pebbles and the fragments of 

 rock were always accompanied by bone-remains, and after a great 

 number of observations we recognized that the presence of the trans- 

 ported materials was essential to the presence of the bones. In fact, 

 where none of the former exist, none of the latter are met with ; so 

 that on entering a subterranean cavity which has not been explored, 

 one can decide beforehand whether or not the remains of animals of 

 geological antiquity exist there. In other caverns, on the contrary, 

 one can feel sure that there is every probability of finding organic 

 remains, especially if a layer of stalagmite covers the pebbly loam. 

 It is, nevertheless, well worth while to observe that the phenomenon 

 of the bone-caves is accompanied by the same circumstances all the 

 world over. The bones are to be referred, some to animals of extinct 

 species, and others to races not to be distinguished from those now 

 living ; and these are, notwithstanding, mixed together indiscrimi- 

 nately in the same soil. 



Finally, the last question which remains is not the least important. 

 It is, to learn to what cause ought to be attributed the singular as- 

 semblage together of so many bones, often accumulated in such large 

 quantities that they are as plentiful as in a cemetery. 



What we have already said about the almost constant presence of 

 bones in caves where there occur at the same time transported 

 materials, leads to a strong presumption that these remains have been 



* "Eecherches sur les cavernes a ossements de Lunel-Viel, Montpellier." 

 Boehm 6diteur, 1839. 



t At the period of the discovery of the bone-caves of Lunel-Viel none had been 

 previously discovered in Tertiary formations ; since then we have found several 

 in formations of that age. 



